Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-27
TRuFFLE HUNTING.
How DOGS and Hogs Are Empleyo~
Gathering the Delicious TidDi--

aow Dorn and Hogs Are Employ
. Gathering the Delicious TidDi-
italy is the home of the trufne-h InleI
and the trufie-dog. Most people nave
seem if not tasted. truff1e. In snaps
Il i more OF less spherical. something's
studded over with warty protuberances'
sometimes smooth. Its size varies
Greatly. In England it Is seldom
Greater than n large hens egg or
moderate-sized apple, but on the eonti'
nent II is often found much larger, In
color also it is variable. The common
est kind is the white, which mas Il
coarse favor and IS but little esteemed
This is probably the sort with when
the ancients were acquainted.
A red or purple variety is also
found. but is rather rare The black
ia the best known, and is generally
considered to have the most delicate
flavor.
The geographical distribution of the
trufiie is wide. 1t extends over most
of Europe and parts of Asia, even so far
as Japan and the East Indies. In Eng
land it is found in most of the southern
and midland counties. and probably
could be procured all over the king
dom, but the regular truffie-huntfng Is
carried on only in Hampshire. Wilt
shire and Kent. In some parts of Som
ersetshire another fungus of an entire
Nv different species. and only resem-
bling the truffle in being subterran-
cons. is sold under the name of Bath
Truffle.'' -
Since its growth is entirely subtere
raneous. without any shoots or other
signs of its presence above ground. the
hunters resort to a peculiar method to-
obtain it. Some animals, notable the
dog and the pig, which possess deli
cate sense of smell, have also a strong
liking for the truffle, which is turned to
account
In England and some parts of France
and Italy, dogs are employed in the
search. small white woolly dog being
specially trained for the purpose. The
English dogs are inferior i'll skill to
those used in Italy, where they are
often trained so we'll that the hunter
can send his animals out. even at night,
without troubling to follow them, and
yet be sure that they will bring back
all they find, without tasting them.
But in England close watch has to be
kept on the dogs, or they will devour
the dainty as soon as it is unearthed.
An Italian writer, Vittadini. tells OF,
some dogs in his possession which he
had trained to such perfection, that if
he wanted supply of any particular
variety. he had only to give them one
to smell, and they would search for
that kind only.
AS rule the dogs hunt in couples.
Sometimes the hunter is furnished
with a stout ash stuck, tipped at one
| extremity with iron TO the depth of
about three inches. This is used for
! digging up the truffie.
In parts of France and Italy. instead
of dogs, a pig is used. The kind
known as the Perigord pig is thought
to be the most expert. This animal
also is susceptible of certain amount
of training. LAS soon as the pig has
disinterred the truffie," says Figuier,
cit remains for few moments motion
less like a pointer; but if it is kept
waiting too long, its gluttony fire.
quently gets the better of its training"
According to the same authority, a
truffie pig, well taught, is worth about
two hundred francs.-LeiSure Hour.